Interestingly, a recent report shows that in ovariectomized rats, the combination of isoflavones and conjugated equine estrogens given after the administration of DMBA dramatically reduced tumor incidence in comparison with ovariectomized animals given estrogens alone or isoflavones alone (J. (, Nomura, A., Henderson, B. E. & Lee, J. (, Weber, G., Shen, F., Yang, H., Prajda, N. & Li, W. (, Meng, Q. H., Wahala, K., Adlercreutz, H. & Tikkanen, M. J. Soy milk has no cholesterol, because it doesnt come from animal fat. Traditional soy foods (i.e., tofu, miso, natto) typically provide 0.20.4 mg/g of fresh weight product and 24 mg/g protein. The objective of this paper is to highlight studies that pertain most directly to this controversy in hopes of both offering guidance to healthcare professionals and stimulating further debate and research so that this issue can be resolved as quickly as possible. A study suggests that eating soy foods may help improve survival in women diagnosed with hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer. For these reasons and because there is an intriguing body of literature suggesting soy consumption may reduce breast cancer risk and possibly improve survival, many breast cancer patients have embraced soy products, isoflavone supplements and foods to which isoflavones have been added. Interestingly, Wu et al. In my opinion, we need to focus less on magic bullet approaches (single nutrients and single foods) and focus more on holistic approaches. However, even the lower estimates of estrogenicity suggest that isoflavones have the potential to exert physiologic effects in humans consuming soy foods because serum isoflavone levels will be 100-1000 times higher than endogenous estrogen levels (83). For example, Hawrylewicz et al. B., Brown, N. M., Thompson, R., Hardin, M. J. Recognising the issues arising from increasing longevity and the obesity epidemic its focus includes osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, cancer, depression and dementia as well as When all women in the study were grouped together, high (>71 grams/day) versus low (<33 grams/day) cruciferous vegetable intake was associated with a 50% reduction in menopause symptoms. A. Jul 2012;96(1):123-132. We should be encouraging breast cancer survivors to focus on all aspects of a healthy diet, not just soy and cruciferous vegetables. Lets compare: 85178 mg total isoflavone / 100g serving (depending on country of origin). This situation may be analogous to tamoxifen as noted by Bouker and Hilakivi-Clarke (38) in that in male rat anterior pituitary cells, low (100 nmol/L) concentrations of tamoxifen increased prolactin secretion but at higher concentrations, estrogen-stimulated prolactin secretion was completed inhibited by tamoxifen (125). Estrogen discontinuation is associated with a loss of protection against CHD (27) and osteoporosis (28). For example, in a small study in Spain, women with breast cancer (n = 121) who were undergoing HRT at time of diagnosis were found to have lower tumoral stages, a lower degree of affected axillary lymph node dissemination and a greater percentage of well-differentiated tumors than women (n = 121) who were not using HRT (261). The odds ratio for girls in the highest (11 g soy protein/d) vs. the lowest quintile of intake (<2.2 g soy protein/d) was 0.51 [95% confidence interval, 0.400.65; trend test, P < 0.001]. Discover information about different types of cancer, Learn about cancer, diagnosis, treatment, coping & survivorship, Find resources & tools for oncology healthcare professionals. Does cannabis actually relieve pain or is something else going on? Only 3540% of all women ever begin estrogen therapy and only 15% continue it long term (25,26). Abstract. & Anderson, K. E. (, Riza, E., dos Santos Silva, I., De Stavola, B., Bradlow, H. L., Sepkovic, D. W., Linos, D. & Linos, A. & Abbey, M. (, Davis, J. N., Kucuk, O., Djuric, Z. Therefore, consumers will have even greater access to a wide variety of soy foods, which will likely result in a further mainstreaming of soy products. Oral estrogen replacement therapy versus placebo for hot flushes: a systematic review, Use of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy: estimates from a nationally representative cohort study, Use of hormone replacement therapy by postmenopausal women in the United States, Duration of estrogen replacement therapy in relation to the risk of incident myocardial infarction in postmenopausal women, Timing of postmenopausal estrogen for optimal bone mineral density. Although it is unclear whether any form of soy or isoflavone pills poses a risk to breast cancer patients, the available data do not appear to warrant differentiating among the various forms of isoflavone-containing products. Isoflavones have traditionally been considered to be weak estrogens, possessing between 105 and 102 of the activity of 17-estradiol on a molar basis (7476). (, Constantinou, A., Lantvit, D., Lim, E., Xu, H. & Pezzuto, J. M. (, Crouse, J. R., III, Morgan, T., Terry, J. G., Ellis, J., Vitolins, M. & Burke, G. L. (, Urban, D., Irwin, W., Kirk, M., Markiewicz, M. A., Myers, R., Smith, M., Weiss, H., Grizzle, W. E. & Barnes, S. (, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine. (162) first fed rats a casein-based AIN-76 diet and then injected them with the breast carcinogen MNU. Soy milk, on the other hand, has 7 grams of protein, 5 grams of fat and 4 grams of carbohydrates. (, Preston-Martin, S., Pike, M. C., Ross, R. K., Jones, P. A. (, Pagliacci, M. C., Smacchia, M., Migliorati, G., Grignani, F., Riccardi, C. & Nicoletti, I. Receive the latest resources and updates in your inbox. and transmitted securely. Targeted therapy drugs The dietary genistin concentration (1400 g/g) used by Shao et al. Confusion about soy arises from the term "phytoestrogens." Your thyroid gland takes up most of the iodine in your body. And then there was the low rate of breast cancer in soy-consuming One reason there isnt a more definitive answer is because isoflavone either acts like oestrogen in the body, or its opposite. AUBREY: Research in Asian women has shown that soy can actually protect against breast cancer, so Zheng's says she was not surprised by the results of the study. However, soy foods do appear to be safe, and possibly beneficial for female breast cancer survivors. (, Lee, H. P., Gourley, L., Duffy, S. W., Esteve, J., Lee, J. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the These studies suggest that the effect of soy consumption on the efficacy of tamoxifen and perhaps even estrogen is a promising area of research and warrants rigorous investigation. Is it dangerous? And if its OK to eat, why do some people say it isnt? It was once thought that soy foods increase the risk of breast cancer. Breast cells contain estrogen receptors, and when the key joins with the lock , a series of signals are sent which can spur on estrogen-receptor positive breast tumor growth. In those studies, soy showed no adverse effects, did not interfere with drugs given to inhibit estrogen and in fact was associated with better outcomes. Search for other works by this author on: 7th Annual Consumer Attitudes about Nutrition, 20002001 National Report, Based soy food maker stays a nose above the competition, Soy, its components, and cancer prevention: a review of the in vitro, animal, and human data, Soy intake and cancer risk: a review of the in vitro and in vivo data, Soy protein, soybean isoflavones, and bone health: a review of the animal and human data, Handbook of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, Soy protein and cardiovascular disease: a statement for healthcare professionals from the nutrition committee of the AHA, Food labeling, health claims, soy protein, and coronary heart disease, The role of soy products in reducing risk of cancer, HPLC analysis of isoflavonoids and other phenolic agents from foods and from human fluids, Daidzein and genistein content of fruits and nuts, Daidzein and genistein contents of vegetables, Isoflavones in retail and institutional soy foods, Phytoestrogens and healthy aging: gaps in knowledge. Estrogen receptor beta-selective transcriptional activity and recruitment of coregulators by phytoestrogens, Use and specificity of genistein as inhibitor of protein-tyrosine kinases, Genistein as an inducer of tumor cell differentiation: possible mechanisms of action, Mechanisms of action of the soy isoflavone genistein: emerging role for its effects via transforming growth factor beta signaling pathways, The climacteric, osteoporosis and hormone replacement; views of women aged 4549. The next study has largely been responsible for raising concerns about soy consumption by breast cancer patients. As a breast cancer survivor and senior clinical dietitian at MD Anderson, Christie Siebel is passionate about debunking misinformation so patients get the nutrients they need to Am JClinNutr. & Nilsson, S. (, Kao, Y. C., Zhou, C., Sherman, M., Laughton, C. A. Allison Aubrey, NPR News. Often cited in support of recommendations for breast cancer patients to consume soy are studies showing that even after an assortment of variables including stage at diagnosis are controlled for, Japanese breast cancer patients exhibit better survival than do other ethnic groups (186189). (, Cassidy, A., Bingham, S. & Setchell, K. D. (, Lu, L. J., Anderson, K. E., Grady, J. J., Kohen, F. & Nagamani, M. (, Wrensch, M. R., Petrakis, N. L., King, E. B., Miike, R., Mason, L., Chew, K. L., Lee, M. M., Ernster, V. L., Hilton, J. F., Schweitzer, R., Goodson, W. H., III & Hunt, T. K. (, Wrensch, M., Petrakis, N. L., King, E. B., Lee, M. M. & Miike, R. (, Petrakis, N. L., Lee, M. M., Wrensch, M. R., Ernster, V. L., Miike, R., Koo, L. C. & Ho, J. C. (, Hargreaves, D. F., Potten, C. S., Harding, C., Shaw, L. E., Morton, M. S., Roberts, S. A., Howell, A. 84: 3647], Soy isoflavones improve systemic arterial compliance but not plasma lipids in menopausal and perimenopausal women, Soy isoflavone supplementation in healthy men prevents NF-B activation by TNF- in blood lymphocytes, Comparison of the ligand binding specificity and transcript tissue distribution of estrogen receptors alpha and beta, Interaction of estrogenic chemicals and phytoestrogens with estrogen receptor beta, Developmental effects of dietary phytoestrogens in Sprague-Dawley rats and interactions of genistein and daidzein with rat estrogen receptors alpha and beta in vitro, Therapeutic potential of selective estrogen receptor modulators, Structure of the ligand-binding domain of oestrogen receptor beta in the presence of a partial agonist and a full antagonist, Development of QSAR models to predict estrogenic, carcinogenic, and cancer protective effects of phytoestrogens, Estrogen receptor activation via activation function 2 predicts agonism of xenoestrogens in normal and neoplastic cells of the uterine myometrium, Dietary estrogens stimulate human breast cells to enter the cell cycle, Dietary estrogens act through estrogen receptor-mediated processes and show no antiestrogenicity in cultured breast cancer cells, Estrogenic and antiproliferative properties of genistein and other flavonoids in human breast cancer cells in vitro, The two phyto-oestrogens genistein and quercetin exert different effects on oestrogen receptor function, Differential effects of dietary phyto-oestrogens daidzein and equol on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, Differential response of estrogen receptor alpha and estrogen receptor beta to partial estrogen agonists/antagonists, Molecular basis of the inhibition of human aromatase (estrogen synthetase) by flavone and isoflavone phytoestrogens: a site-directed mutagenesis study, Inhibition of human aromatase by mammalian lignans and isoflavonoid phytoestrogens, Flavonoid inhibition of aromatase enzyme activity in human preadipocytes. Survival benefits were seen for breast cancer survivors with a BMI <25 kg/m 2 and 25 kg/m 2 for both cancer-specific and all-cause mortality. Hilakivi-Clarke et al. To whom reprint requests should be addressed. In fact, in human studies, the estrogen effects of soy seem to either have no effect at all, or to reduce breast cancer risk . Data for premenopausal breast cancer risk are inconsistent, with some studies reporting no association (198), others reporting only modestly reduced risks (197) and some finding quite pronounced protective effects (51). Examples of soy foods include edamame (soybeans), tofu, soymilk, soybean sprouts,misoand tempeh (fermented soybeans). Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. This may be because the isoflavones can actually block the more potent natural estrogens in the blood. (162) concluded that the inhibition of chemically induced mammary tumor development reported in a previous study (141) and tumor progression in this study (162) resulted from the lower methionine content of soy protein. (, Wu, A. H., Pike, M. C. & Stram, D. O. Inherited mutations in BRCA1 and this gene, BRCA2, confer increased lifetime risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer. Breast cancer is not just one disease it comes in many variations. Isoflavones have been shown to down-regulate estrogen receptors, an effect that could lead to reduced estrogenic responses (99). (, Makela, S., Poutanen, M., Kostian, M. L., Lehtimaki, N., Strauss, L., Santti, R. & Vihko, R. (, Le Bail, J. C., Champavier, Y., Chulia, A. J. Other doctors think soy might protect breast health because the hormone-like strength of isoflavones is much weaker than the estrogen your body naturally makes. Furthermore, there are conflicting data regarding the relative importance of the 16()-hydroxylation vs. the 2-hydroxylation of estrogen on breast cancer risk (220). Shu XO, Zheng Y, Cai H, et al. 150: 546], Bone mineral density and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women, Bone mass and the risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women, Bone mineral density and risk of breast cancer: differences by family history of breast cancer. PLoSONE. Jenie RI, Amalina ND, Ilmawati GPN, Utomo RY, Ikawati M, Khumaira A, Kato JY, Meiyanto E. Adv Pharm Bull. Researchon isoflavoneshows that eating traditional soy foodsmay: Population studies do not linkconsumingsoy with any cancer. /PRNewswire/ -- Breast cancer patients and survivors can lay their fears to rest regarding soy consumption. Genistein has also been shown to shift the proteolytic balance of matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases toward antiproteolysis in media or ascitic fluid conditioned by actively growing Ehrlich cells (133). Several studies examined the effects of different soy products on the development of chemically induced mammary cancer in adult animals. Although soy contains a number of putative anticarcinogens (10), initial excitement over the hypothesized anticancer effects of this legume was based largely on the possibility that isoflavones might exert antiestrogenic effects on breast tissue, as other estrogen agonists/antagonists, such as tamoxifen, were known to do. A. One explanation for this observation is that among women born in Japan but not in the United States, soy consumption reflects a more traditional lifestyle that protects against breast cancer rather than soy intake per se being protective. The relevance of the in vitro anticancer effects of genistein has been questioned because free genistein concentrations in serum would never reach the low micromolar range, even in people consuming plentiful amounts of soy foods. Low concentrations of isoflavones also inhibit 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (106), which converts dehydroepiandrosterone into androstenedione, which can be converted into estrone (107). Genistein and daidzein are specific types of soy isoflavones that are often sold as dietary supplements. Naturally, these observations fueled interest in the anticancer effects of isoflavones. Helferich and colleagues (116) showed that genistein and soy protein isolate increased tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner in ovariectomized SCID mice and that serum genistein levels in these mice are 12 mol/L. The investigators concluded that soy exerted a weak estrogenic effect on breast tissue but also that the long-term implications of this effect were unclear because soy did not increase cell proliferation and because the study lasted only 2 wk. Presented as part of the 11th Annual Research Conference on Diet, Nutrition and Cancer held in Washington, DC, July 1617, 2001. It has generally been accepted that higher endogenous estrogen levels (246) and greater lifelong exposure to estrogen increase breast cancer risk, which is presumably why earlier age at menses and later age at menopause (247) and higher bone mineral density (248252) are considered to be risk factors for breast cancer and why obesity (because of the greater peripheral synthesis of estrogen and lower SHBG levels) appears to decrease survival of breast cancer patients (253,254). Similarly, Miodini et al. Independent of effects on cell growth, genistein in vitro (50% effective concentration 1 mol/L) inhibited invasion by a highly metastatic subline of BALB/c mammary carcinoma cells (127), an effect also demonstrated in prostate cancer cells (128). For Non-Hispanic White women high versus low soy intake was associated with a 71% reduction in menopause symptoms and a 75% reduction in fatigue. (, Makela, S., Davis, V. L., Tally, W. C., Korkman, J., Salo, L., Vihko, R., Santti, R. & Korach, K. S. (, Miodini, P., Fioravanti, L., Di Fronzo, G. & Cappelletti, V. (, Barkhem, T., Carlsson, B., Nilsson, Y., Enmark, E., Gustafsson, J. Concern has arisen over a possible detrimental effect of soy in breast cancer patients because of the estrogen-like effects of isoflavones. Pierce JP, et al. It is true that there are other bioactive components in soy besides isoflavones [e.g., the protein is needed for cholesterol reduction although isoflavones may enhance the hypocholesterolemic effect (287,288)], but this point is likely irrelevant to the question of whether breast cancer patients should consume soy unless the argument is made that these other components can specifically negate any potentially harmful effects of soy on breast tissue. Inhibition of 17-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase by flavonoids in breast and prostate cancer cells, Effects of phytoestrogens on aromatase, 3 and 17-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities and human breast cancer cells, Regulation of steroid sulphatase and oestradiol 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in breast cancer, Effects of mammalian and plant estrogens on mammary glands and uteri of macaques, Regulation of signal transduction activity in normal and cancer cells, Antiproliferative efficacy of lipophilic soy isoflavone phytoestrogens delivered by low density lipoprotein particles into cultured U937 cells, Antioxidant activity of phytoestrogenic isoflavones, Genistein inhibition of the growth of human breast cancer cells: independence from estrogen receptors and the multi-drug resistance gene, Growth-inhibitory effects of the natural phyto-oestrogen genistein in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, Genistein inhibits both estrogen and growth factor-stimulated proliferation of human breast cancer cells, Estrogenic effects of genistein on the growth of estrogen receptor-positive human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells in vitro and in vivo, Genistein's ER-dependent and independent actions are mediated through ER pathways in ER-positive breast carcinoma cell lines, Tyrosine kinase inhibitors as antiproliferative agents against an estrogen-dependent breast cancer cell line in vitro, Induction of apoptosis and inhibition of C-ERBB-2 in MDA-MB-435 cells by genistein, Tamoxifen and genistein synergistically down-regulate signal transduction and proliferation in estrogen receptor-negative human breast carcinoma MDA-MB-435 cells, Genistein exerts multiple suppressive effects on human breast carcinoma cells, Bcl-2 is not reduced in the death of MCF-7 cells at low genistein concentration, Galectin-3 mediates genistein-induced G(2)/M arrest and inhibits apoptosis, Genistein in the control of breast cancer cell growth: insights into the mechanism of action in vitro, Antiestrogens are partial estrogen agonists for prolactin production in primary pituitary cultures, Effects of phytoestrogens on DNA synthesis in MCF-7 cells in the presence of estradiol or growth factors, Inhibition of invasion of murine mammary carcinoma cells by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein, Genistein inhibits proliferation and in vitro invasive potential of human prostatic cancer cell lines, Genistein, a component of soy, inhibits the expression of the EGF and ERBB2/NEU receptors in the rat dorsolateral prostate, Mass spectrometric determination of genistein tissue distribution in diet-exposed Sprague-Dawley rats, Genistein, a dietary-derived inhibitor of in vitro angiogenesis, Flavonoids, dietary-derived inhibitors of cell proliferation and in vitro angiogenesis, Effects of genistein and 2-methoxyestradiol on matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors secreted by Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, Soybean phytochemicals inhibit the growth of transplantable human prostate carcinoma and tumor angiogenesis in mice, Soybean isoflavones reduce experimental metastasis in mice, Genistein attenuates peritoneal metastasis of azoxymethane-induced intestinal adenocarcinomas in wistar rats, Effect of dietary supplementation of soybeans on experimental metastasis of melanoma cells in mice, Effect of isoflavones genistein and daidzein in the inhibition of lung metastasis in mice induced by B16F-10 melanoma cells, Diets containing whey proteins or soy protein isolate protect against 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary tumors in female rats, Dietary soybean isolate and methionine supplementation affect mammary tumor progression in rats, Effect of miso (Japanese soybean paste) and NaCl on DMBA-induced rat mammary tumors, Inhibitory effects of bifidobacterium-fermented soy milk on 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine-induced rat mammary carcinogenesis, with a partial contribution of its component isoflavones, Effect of intact and isoflavone-depleted soy protein on NMU-induced rat mammary tumorigenesis, Experimental evidence of dietary factors and hormone-dependent cancers, Modification of spontaneous mammary tumors in mice fed different sources of protein, fat and carbohydrate, Quality of dietary protein during initiation and promotion of chemical carcinogenesis in rats, Dietary Proteins. Cell Cycle Modulation of CHO-K1 Cells Under Genistein Treatment Correlates with Cells Senescence, Apoptosis and ROS Level but in a Dose-Dependent Manner. The first in vivo inhibition of angiogenesis by genistein was reported by Shao et al. There are also endless arrays of special blends of herbs and vitamins that claim to reduce the discomforts of menopause. Background: Some studies have investigated the association between soy and isoflavones consumption and breast cancer survival, but the results are far from conclusive. Population studies indicate that soy consumption in survivors of breast cancer may be linked todecreased recurrence and greater overall survival. Fecal Metabolome: New Addition to the Toolbox for Dietary Assessment? Recently, O'Meara et al. As noted previously, in vitro genistein stimulates MCF-7 cell growth generally until concentrations exceed 5 mol/L (98,106,116,124). A., Ljung, B. M., Bauer, D. C., Cummings, S. R. & Kuller, L. H. (, Newman, S. C., Lees, A. W. & Jenkins, H. J. In the second study, premenopausal women (n = 34) were randomly assigned to receive either 100 mg isoflavones (derived from soy) or placebo for 1 y (Gertraud Maskarinec, Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, unpublished data, 2001). A., Black, D. M., Barrett-Connor, E., Harris, F., Shields, K., Applegate, W. & Cummings, S. R. (, Lee, M. M., Lin, S. S., Wrensch, M. R., Adler, S. R. & Eisenberg, D. (, Morris, K. T., Johnson, N., Homer, L. & Walts, D. (, Couzi, R. J., Helzlsouer, K. J. This site needs JavaScript to work properly. Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. This study does not provide a rationale to increase soy consumption beyond a single serving. Therefore, determining the role of ER in breast carcinogenesis appears to be critically important to understanding the effect of soy and isoflavone intake on breast cancer risk. The most pronounced inhibitory effects in response to the administration of an isolated isoflavone were reported by Gotoh et al. This biphasic effect is attributed to genistein exerting estrogen-like effects at lower and what may be considered physiologic concentrations but at higher concentrations exerting other non-estrogen receptormediated effects, for example, inhibition of the activity of one or more cellular molecules that control cell signaling, growth and death. In the dietary study, total genistein concentrations in the serum and mammary glands of 21-d-old offspring were only 1.8 mol/L and 370 nmol/g, respectively. & Heubi, J. E. (, Markiewicz, L., Garey, J., Adlercreutz, H. & Gurpide, E. (, Mayr, U., Butsch, A. However, further research is needed to determine whether soy supplementation affects risk and whether soy interacts with estrogen-blocking medications. Enter another study blessing soy for breast cancer thrivers. The effect of soy on treatment-related symptoms was non-significant for Chinese-American women, perhaps because the baseline intake of soy was greater for this group. The possibility that soy might exert the same hypothesized advantages of estrogen, especially in regard to CHD, osteoporosis and relief of vasomotor symptoms, but without the disadvantages, has led many women to view soy as an alternative to conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Nutrient Data Laboratory Home Page: http://www.ars.usda.gov/nutrientdata/isoflav. AUBREY: She says it's not clear what the results would be if women with breast cancer consumed more. As noted previously, genistein is thought to be able to influence signal transduction (110) by inhibiting the activity of many enzymes and influencing cellular factors that control the growth of cells (19,21,54,56); in some experimental systems, isoflavones demonstrate antioxidant activity (86,111,112). Now a new study of more than For this reason, the publication in 1991 of a case-control study conducted in Singapore showing that the consumption of modest amounts of soy was associated with an 50% reduction in premenopausal breast cancer risk (postmenopausal risk was unaffected) did much to further stimulate interest in soy (51). (121), who found that angiogenesis was inhibited in mice injected subcutaneously with genistein. docholly Member Posts: 16. (, Greendale, G. A., Reboussin, B. Typically, its best to wait four hours after taking thyroid medicine before consuming any soy product. Supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and should be used with caution. At one time, soy seemed to be just the ticket for women: heart-healthy, good for bones, and helpful for hot flashes. New Malignancies Among Cancer Survivors: SEER Cancer Registries, 1973-2000. In a follow-up study when treatment was delayed until NMU-induced tumors had reached between 10 and 25 mm in the largest direction, the combination of miso and tamoxifen inhibited growth by 50% over 6 wk, whereas tamoxifen by itself was ineffective (148). Soy (, Hilakivi-Clarke, L., Cho, E., Onojafe, I., Raygada, M. & Clarke, R. (, Morrison, A. S., Lowe, C. R., MacMahon, B., Ravnihar, B. Several clinical studies have shown it also decreases recurrence of breast cancer and enhances survival following breast cancer treatment. To continue reading this article, you must log in. Does anyone know if soy products pose a risk to women with breast cancer? In 1990, findings showing that the addition of soy protein to a typical laboratory diet significantly decreased chemically induced rat mammary cancer (42) prompted the National Cancer Institute to hold a workshop on this subject (10). If you read Dr. Strangeloves nutrition blogs, you would be led to believe that soy causes breast cancer and shortens the lifespan of breast cancer survivors. These headlines are based on a small, preliminary study that needs to be repeated before any definitive recommendations can be made. Undoubtedly, Hsieh and colleagues (116) from the University of Illinois conducted the animal study most widely cited in support of breast cancer patients avoiding soy. These data are extremely noteworthy for two important reasons: first, they are consistent with the animal work by Lamartiniere's group showing the protective effects of early soy exposure (172), and second, they are consistent with migration data showing that for breast cancer in contrast to prostate cancer, early life events are particularly important (208). In a follow-up analysis of data, protective effects were found only in non-U.S.-born Asians, not in U.S.-born Asians (203). Skipping meals, fasting and eating meals too closely together may be linked with increased cardiovascular or all-cause mortality, researchers report in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.. Lead author Yangbo Sun, MBBS, PhD, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, This conference was sponsored by the American Institute for Cancer Research and was supported by the California Dried Plum Board, The Campbell Soup Company, General Mills, Lipton, Mead Johnson Nutritionals, Roche Vitamins Inc. and Vitasoy USA. Can Getting Hit In Your Breast Cause Cancer, daily soya intake can halve the frequency and severity of hot flashes, What Environmental Factors Cause Breast Cancer, Triple Positive Breast Cancer Recurrence Rate, What Percentage Of Breast Biopsies Turn To Cancer, Can Metastatic Breast Cancer Go Into Remission, What Is The Survival Rate For Stage 0 Breast Cancer, What Stage Breast Cancer Requires Mastectomy, Life Expectancy For Metastatic Breast Cancer, What Do Nipples Look Like When You Have Breast Cancer, What Does Nuclear Grade Mean In Breast Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. The average age of the women was 57. The concern has been that the estrogen-like compounds in soy might interfere with the effectiveness of breast cancer drugs like Tamoxifen. Thus, in theory, the findings may not be applicable to all women, whereas they could be particularly germane to breast cancer patients. Isoflavones, classically viewed as possible selective estrogen receptor modulators (1618), possess other nonestrogen receptormediated properties that also may contribute to their biological activity (1921). Some research has shown that consuming any amount of alcohol increases risk of some types of cancer, most notably breast cancer. 2022 Mar 16;12(3):252. doi: 10.3390/metabo12030252. This is one of the many myths I have debunked in my book Slaying The Supplement Myths. Multiple clinical studies have proven that soy reduces the likelihood of developing breast cancer. (, Trock, B., Butler, W., Clarke, R. & Hilakivi-Clarke, L. (, Yuan, J. M., Wang, Q. S., Ross, R. K., Henderson, B. E. & Yu, M. C. (, Hirohata, T., Shigematsu, T., Nomura, A. M., Nomura, Y., Horie, A. So it might be healthier if soys weak isoflavones wash out or replace some of your bodys stronger estrogen. Have you done your crossword puzzle today? More substantial inhibitory effects were found by Ohta et al. Purpose: Low bone mineral density (BMD) is common among breast cancer survivors due to acute estrogen deprivation. In 2000, 27% of U.S. consumers reported using soy products at least once per week, which is nearly double the 1998 figure (1), and soy foods sales are projected to be $6 billion in 2005, a nearly threefold increase from 1999 (2). A recent example of in vivo antiestrogenic activity of soy occurred in adult, surgically postmenopausal female macaques (Macaca fascicularis); the consumption of an isoflavone-rich soy protein isolate inhibited the stimulatory effects of exogenously administered estradiol on mammary gland cell proliferation (109). & Gustafsson, J. (, Duncan, A. M., Merz-Demlow, B. E., Xu, X., Phipps, W. R. & Kurzer, M. S. (, Setchell, K. D., Borriello, S. P., Hulme, P., Kirk, D. N. & Axelson, M. (, Hodgson, J. M., Puddey, I. Clearly, when evaluating the possible hormone-related effects of isoflavones, it is necessary to look beyond the estrogen receptor, and when evaluating the likely overall biological effects of isoflavones, it is necessary to consider more than hormone-related activities. The site is secure. In fact, no epidemiologic studies conducted in Asia were identified that found that adult consumption of soy reduces breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women (51,197,198). Accessibility (162), however, are in contrast to those from a study by Charland et al. Some doctors are concerned that the growth of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers may be turned on by isoflavones. Read more:Soy Milk Advantages and Disadvantages. Importantly, substantial data suggest that the progestogen, not the estrogen, component of HRT increases risk of developing breast cancer. In HepG2 human hepatoma cells transfected with rat ER or ER plus an estrogen-responsive luciferase reporter gene, Casanova et al. Komen has invested more than $3.3 million in research investigating the effects of soy, and its components, on various aspects of breast cancer. It is well established that estrogen is linked to hormonally-sensitive cancers in women, such as breast and endometrial cancer. In some animal studies, rodents that were exposed to high doses of compounds found in soy called isoflavones showed an increased risk of breast cancer. Learn more about the many benefits and features of joining Harvard Health Online , Find the best treatments and procedures for you, Explore options for better nutrition and exercise. JAMA. Soy isoflavones, estrogen therapy, and breast cancer risk: analysis and commentary. Cancer Prevention Research. However, isoflavones bind to estrogen receptors differently and function differently than estrogen. Although in 1999, the Food and Drug Administration approved a health claim for the cholesterol-lowering properties of soy protein (9) and soybeans are known to contain several bioactive components (10), unarguably, it is the soybean isoflavones that have attracted most attention. No differences in breast tissue density were noted between groups. (92), An et al. UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Hey, what can I get you today? There was also a significant increase in the number of lung metastases (31%; Kruskal-Wallis test) in the rats receiving heat-sterilized soybean isoflavones. As noted previously, typical Japanese isoflavone intake is 3040 mg/d. Some doctors are concerned about the safety of soy foods for women whove been diagnosed with breast cancer. The Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness, is yours absolutely FREE when you sign up to receive Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School. 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